Sindh orders Gul Plaza demolition after deadly Karachi blaze

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed authorities to demolish the fire-damaged Gul Plaza building in Karachi, signalling the start of a reconstruction process months after the devastating blaze that killed dozens of people. The order was issued during a review meeting focused on compensation for bereaved families and financial relief for affected traders.

Officials told the meeting that the Sindh Building Control Authority had been asked to prepare a detailed reconstruction plan so work on the site could begin as early as possible. The chief minister also instructed the Karachi commissioner to notify the judicial commission investigating the fire before demolition activity starts.

The provincial government said it had set aside Rs850 million for families of those killed, with compensation of Rs10 million per deceased victim. According to the briefing, payments have already been delivered to 61 families, while a number of remaining cases are still being processed because of identity documentation issues, verification disputes and several unclaimed bodies.

Relief for traders was also reviewed. Authorities said Rs600 million had been allocated for shopkeepers affected by the disaster, with each verified claimant entitled to Rs500,000. The meeting was told that hundreds of traders had already received assistance, although officials are still reconciling discrepancies over the final number of affected shops and cases involving multiple outlets under one ownership structure.

Murad said all genuine beneficiaries must receive support without further delay and stressed that compensation and rebuilding should proceed under a clear and transparent policy framework. His remarks underscored the government’s effort to turn a long-running tragedy into a managed recovery and reconstruction process.